Christopher James Ramstead, 47, of Thousand Oaks faces nine felony counts of committing a lewd act upon a child under 14, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He has pleaded not guilty. If convicted as charged, Ramstead faces 135 years to life in state prison.
Thursday’s proceeding in Department 112 of the Van Nuys Courthouse, 14400 Erwin Street Mall, is scheduled to set a date for a preliminary hearing — a proceeding at which a judge determines whether prosecutors have enough evidence to send the case to trial.
The alleged abuse occurred during various time periods between March 2003 and July 2025 in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, prosecutors said, and involved three victims under the age of 14. According to the criminal complaint, one child was allegedly abused between March 1 and October 1, 2003; a second between December 29, 2011, and December 28, 2013; and a third on or about July 26, 2025, according to the Pasadena Star-News, which reviewed the complaint.
Ramstead is a firefighter and paramedic who was hired by the Pasadena Fire Department in 2005 and promoted to captain in 2016, according to city records. He was most recently assigned to Fire Station 38 on Linda Vista Avenue, near the Rose Bowl.
The Los Angeles Police Department initially arrested Ramstead on February 4, 2026, and booked him on suspicion of continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to the LAPD. He posted $550,000 bail and was released the following day. Two days later, the District Attorney’s Office filed the nine-count charge, and Ramstead was re-arrested on February 6, 2026.
At his arraignment on February 9, 2026, Ramstead pleaded not guilty, and a judge ordered him held without bail at prosecutors’ request, according to the District Attorney’s Office. On February 13, 2026, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Alan Schneider set bail at $3.25 million over the prosecution’s objections, according to the District Attorney’s Office. The judge placed Ramstead on house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor, ordered him to stay away from all alleged victims and witnesses, and prohibited him from having any minors in his home other than his own children.
“These allegations describe years of sexual abuse of children by someone who was repeatedly placed in positions of trust,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement announcing the charges, according to the District Attorney’s Office. “The harm alleged here is profound, and no title, badge or uniform places anyone above the law.”
Steve Sitkoff, a defense attorney representing Ramstead, said after the bail hearing that his client is innocent of all charges, ABC7 reported.
“We are very pleased the judge decided that bail was appropriate, which we’ve always believed, and we’re looking forward to showing that Chris is innocent of all these charges,” Sitkoff told the station.
A city of Pasadena spokesperson said in a statement that the alleged crimes “occurred outside the scope of the employee’s official duties” and that Ramstead was “immediately placed on administrative leave while the investigation(s) take place.” Ramstead is on unpaid administrative leave.
The investigation originated in Ventura County, according to law enforcement officials. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Vira Samouhi of the Sex Crimes Division and remains under investigation by the LAPD, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Detectives from the LAPD’s Juvenile Division are asking anyone who may be a victim or has additional information about Ramstead to call 818-374-5415. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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